HOLLISTER
The “Peace, Protest and Fast” – made up of residents opposing excessive government spending – has been taking place at the Hollister Post Office. The event is being put on by three groups comprising some of the same members – Hollister People for Peace, the Hollister Peace Vigil and San Benito County Health Care for All – to educate the public on government spending, said Mary Zanger, a member of all the groups.
“We do a lot of education … to let people know where our taxes go – 52 percent, that’s including the interest on this debt that our country borrows, to pay for the military,” Zanger said. “We’re doing what the educational system should be doing. There’s history to teach and why don’t we learn from history. There’s never been a war that has accomplished anything, solved any problems … never.”
Natasha Wist, fellow member of each of the groups, said she and Zanger had been kicked off the porch of the Hollister Post Office. After being kicked off, the group moved its set-up to the west entrance of the post office.
That protest was to coincide with another one, a Tea Party, being put on by the Friends of the Constitution-San Benito chapter at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets this afternoon to protest excessive taxation.
Even though this may be the worst day of the year, Zanger said, the support has been good.
“The support has been good, friendly, serious. People are serious today,” Zanger said. “I don’t blame them, worst day of the year. But they are grateful to know that we are here.”
Along with military spending, the two are also letting people know about the current state of the country’s roads, bridges and health care system.
The two haven’t been without their detractors. Zanger said she received a card from an unknown gentleman that said “freedom is not free.”
“And that’s true but we are preserving our freedom,” she said. “We disagree with killing people, using our tax money to kill people and using our freedom of speech to keep our freedoms and not be afraid.”
The event began at 9 a.m. and was to continue until 5 p.m. A press release for the event said that special clothing and costumes were optional. Attendees were asked to bring signs, water and hand-outs. Fasting and length of participation were voluntary.
The Hollister Post Office is located at 100 Maple St.
